ABOUT THIS ALBUM

Album Notes

On July 18, 2005, Sami's debut album “Feelings” was released to worldwide market. One of the songs, “SAMI’s Land,” was nominated as a No. 16 TOP 20 of the inspirational US hits chart. He has also been performing his concert and has achieved good acclaim for his recitals. It is only natural that his fans have been asking him to release his piano solo album for a long time. This new album is released by New Sound Productions, his music production company. He is planning to start producing more albums.

Because of our advanced science-filled environment, modern technologies and hectic way of life, we now live in manmade surroundings and farther away from nature and peace. We are unconsciously losing the harmony between nature and the peaceful mind. When Sami was young, he loved to go into the forest and quietly spend time with nature for several peaceful hours. His "Wabi-Sabi” art was born. The Japanese people have a strong desire to keep nature in balance. “Wabi-Sabi” art not only reflects physical art but it also reflects the spiritual art inside each person. This is the very basis of the Japanese concept of art. The well-known art of “Zen” is also the basis of this very same concept.

Back home in Japan, whenever he would start playing the piano, the birds would always come to his window and sing alongside the piano. The plants would actually grow taller and have more blossoms. When he would start to play, he felt this harmony with nature.

His new album “Moon Over the Ruined Castle (Kojo no Tsuki)” has this art element within the piano solo because he plays with nature’s harmony in mind and it is truly his original style of art. As you listen to this album, you will feel the harmony with the spirit of nature as if you were in the forest yourself and communicating with nature directly. The music will lead you into peace and away from your daily stress; giving you complete peace with the healing power of nature.

This is Sami's goal that anyone enjoying his album will feel refreshed and recharged in their lives just like nature intended.

The art work of the top cover was presented by his mother, Ms Sumiko Aso, 88 years old, in Japanese traditional art, titled “The cliff and the moon”. And the title song “The moon over the Ruined Castle “was requested by Mr. Masakazu Aso, 97 years old.